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Extended Iceland layover - we need answers!

I'm excited to be back on the boards to plan our next biennial journey, this time to Belgium and the Netherlands. We were happy to learn that we can spend a few days in Iceland - probably on our return trip to the States. I'm thinking that three nights in Reykjavik might be perfect...with one full day to do the Golden Circle and another to enjoy the city itself.

One of the options we've heard mentioned is to make a stop at the Blue Lagoon on the way to or from the airport. We question what we'd do with our luggage while we were there. Is this doable for us?

And more generally speaking, since we'll be at the end of a couple of weeks of travel, can we make these few days a relaxing, enjoyable experience without too much stress, if we've planned ahead? Is my vision of taking a hotel shuttle or another type of bus from Keyflavik into Reykjavik, either renting a car for a day or taking a tour on the Golden Circle (though we aren't typically tour people), enjoying Reyjkavik for a day, then getting back to the airport via the Blue Lagoon - reasonable?

I'd also love suggestions for a place to stay. We are typically B and B or small private hotel people - reasonably priced yet comfortable - and have also enjoyed staying in an apartment, though I wonder if we'd be able to find an apartment for only a 3-night stay.

Sorry for the disorganized post, but I had mentioned potentially renting a car for a day to do the Golden Circle. With the short length of our visit, are we better off using a tour company - and if so, do you have a recommendation for one in particular?

Blue Lagoon, from memory the bus to the airport managed to sort it for us, I forget how but there is an easy solution

Doing the Golden Circle I'd take a small tour (8 to 10 people) it is a bit more one to one than the large tours, you get to chat to the driver a fair bit rather than just get lectured.

Your plan is reasonable

Yes you can find appartment for 3 days. I'd pull up reykavik on google map and stick in appartment and then research the blue dots that appear. You want one near a spa or a bus stop but if you can walk the place is relatively small. Booking dot com has a fair number showing

We're looking at Room With a View luxury apartments on Laugavegur 18 - near Smidjustiger, doesn't look too far from a station. Is this in a desirable part of the city? I'm assuming so since it's an area dense with hotels. I'm sorry to ask such an uneducated question, but we're deep into researching our Belgium and Netherlands itinerary and want to grab this room quickly if it's the one we want, since there's only one left.

Two years ago I did a trip that included a stopover in Iceland (and a week in Belgium/Netherlands). Here are links to my trip reports, I give hotel review/details and also talk about the Golden Circle tour (I normally hate tours but loved this one).

Casey, Laugavegur 18 is ok, and there just as nice places to the East and South which will prove cheaper. You'll be fine there. If in doubt just street view the outside and see if there is anything to worry about.

The coach from the airport comes into the bus station to the south of the town, as I Brit I'm used to walking every where, so I walked but you may need to bus or taxi.

Thanks, bilboburgler and Isabel. We're on the brink of reserving a penthouse (2 floor) apartment on Laugavegur between Frakkastigur and Vitastgiur. It's relatively spacious, with a balcony in each direction, and looks like a comfortable spot for three nights.

I'd seen that post, bilboburgler, but will read again. Her trip summary is great and a joy to read. I've been so scattered between trying to ferret out our plan for Belgium and the Netherlands but don't want to give our Iceland leg short shrift. So much to read and plan, so little time!

Check out reykjavik4you apartments. Located in the center within a 5-10 min. walk to most of the places you'd want to go in the city. Place was very clean, and I felt reasonable. Owner was most solicitous. Don't think you could go wrong here--even a little kitchenette if you wanted to bring in food--a bakery is right across the street. Blue Lagoon has lockers to store stuff--you can arrange to stop there on your way from the airport to town, or the reverse, or you can even take a tour bus from the city during one of the three days you are there. Golden circle is interesting-and I concur a smaller tour might be more interesting than a larger tour company. Pretty country.